Cochin 02 night
Munnar 02 nights
House Boat 01 nights
Kumarakom 02 nights
TASTE OF KERALA
ITINERARY
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 : Arrival COCHIN
Meals Included: None
On arrival at Cochin International airport our representative will receive you at the airport and escort you to the Hotel.
Overnight – Cochin
Day 2 : COCHIN
Meals Included: Breakfast,
A true melting pot in every sense, Cochin or Kochi, is one of the most dynamic, vibrant and energetic cities in South India. One of the most important trading posts on the Spice Route, Cochin sports several vestiges of its multi-cultural past – Chinese fishing nets mingle with Dutch Palaces, Sephardic Synagogues and Portuguese forts – all jostling for space along the shores of the Arabian Sea.
Today, Cochin has a thriving arts and cultural scene and hosts the Cochin Biennale – a major art event in Asia, every winter. Several galleries, boutiques, and artisanal restaurants stand cheek by jowl with one another, especially in the Fort Cochin area, while the spice, fish and antique markets continue to flourish side by side.
This morning after breakfast take a leisurely stroll with your guide through the by-lanes of Fort Cochin which bears a marked European influence from Cochin’s British and Dutch colonial era. Fort Cochin is distinguished by its long line of Chinese fishing nets, which according to local legend, were introduced on the Malabar Coast by the emissaries of Kubla Khan’s court. Then stroll down to where the St. Francis Church stands, originally built by the Portuguese as a Catholic Church it later became Protestant under the Dutch and then Anglican under the British, until it became a part of the Church of South India in the post-Independence era. The Church’s colonial past is evident even today; there are men who operate the church’s enormous punkha fans by pulling on their ropes by hand!
Walk through the Jew town in Cochin – the legacy of a group of Jews that may trace their roots to King Solomon. With the Jewish synagogue at its centre, the Jew town comprises of lanes lined with colonial buildings with Jewish names and antique curio shops, lending it an old-world charm. The antique shops are replacing the old spice bazaar which was significant in driving the global spice markets, and the Cochin port bears witness to the history of the city.
This evening proceed on a cruise along Cochin’s coastline, to take in the sights of a city that thrives on a port economy. Watch the barges and boats bring ashore goods from far and wide, the Cochin lagoon open out into the Arabian Sea, and the quaint cantilever Chinese fishing nets against the backdrop of a splendid sunset.
Overnight – Cochin
Day 3 : COCHIN – MUNNAR ( 4h30 hour drive)
Meals Included: Breakfast,
This morning after an early breakfast you will commence your drive to Munnar a haven of peace and tranquility – the idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country.On arrival check into your Resort.
Rest of the day you will be at your leisure for own activities.
Overnight –Munnar
DAY 4 : MUNNAR
Meals Included: Breakfast,
The picturesque little town of Munnar nestled amidst acres of sprawling tea estates and verdant forests, was once the summer retreat of the British Government in South India, and still has a colonial charm. Its name meaning “three rivers” stems from its location at the confluence of three mountain streams. Besides tea, Munnar is also renowned for its spices like cardamom and pepper, and the local infusions of tea and spices offer a warm respite from the chilly mountaintop climate. Munnar’s rugged landscape offers good opportunities for walks and treks through the town and nearby villages.
No visit to Munnar is complete without experiencing the tea trail, from a visit to the lush, verdant slopes of a tea estate where you can get a glimpse into an industry that is over a hundred years old and learn the story behind your morning cuppa.
Follow this with a visit to the Tea Museum, which houses curios, photographs and machineries representing a turning point for the tea industry in the region, as also some colonial-style furniture. Don’t miss out on the tea-tasting demonstration, where you infusions of different tea varieties and an insight into the nuances of tea-processing await!
Also visitSrishti, the handmade paper crafts centre is an interesting detour. The paper is made out of a variety of materials like the leaves of eucalyptus, lemongrass, lantana and pineapple, and is then crafted into delightful objects from notepads to containers – a haven for the stationary shopaholic! What’s more the centre has a social conscience – it is a unique venture of a corporate giant – Tata, for the rehabilitation of the physically challenged dependents of its employees.
Overnight –Munnar
Day 5 : MUNNAR – ALLEPPEY (5 hour drive)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning after an early breakfast drive from Thekkady to the Backwaters! On arrival board your Houseboat from Palathuruty jetty for a cruise on the backwaters of Southern Kerala. These canals stretch endlessly like a spiders-web of water bodies. Thick foliage and tropical greenery lines these shores, within which lie a slice of Kerala’s old world charm that is completely cut off from contemporary influences.
Cruise through spice and coconut plantations, local villages, and fishing communities. The gentle rocking of your houseboat has a meditative effect and you will enjoy a relaxed and leisurely journey onboard while looking out over the soothing countryside.
Lunch and Dinner on the Houseboat
Overnight – Houseboat on the Backwaters
The Kettuvelloms (houseboats) of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. It took great skill and meticulousness to construct these giants by tying huge planks of jackfruit tree wood together, without the use of a single nail. Today these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting tourism product in India, the luxuriously furnished houseboat.
Day 6 : ALLEPPEY – KUMARAKOM (45 minute drive)
Meals Included: Breakfast&lunch
This morning after breakfast disembark from your Houseboat and drive to Kumarakom a home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. On arrival you will check into your Resort.
Tucked snugly into the banks of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a delight for the senses. With the backwaters mirroring the blue skies and green palms overhead, few places can offer the quiet calm, tranquility and serendipity of Kumarakom making it a haven for those who want to get away from the urban hustle and bustle. Rich in tropical fruit and vegetation, bananas, mangoes, coconuts, and pineapples jostle for space with brightly coloured hibiscus and bougainvillea which spill over into the backwaters.
This late morning you will drive out to Vechoor village and visit the charming Phillip Kutty Farm. Beautifully situated along the backwaters, the farm grows coconut, spices, fruit, and much more. The farm is run by the family who owns it and today you will enjoy a delightful interactive session on Syrian Christian cuisine and learn how to cook some of these delicious dishes. The backwaters add their influence to the food at the farm with fish, duck, and poultry featuring prominently alongside farm fruit and vegetables.
Lunch will be at the Farm.
Return to your Resort in the afternoon and rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight – Kumarakom
The next morning our representative will escort you to Cochin airport and provide assistance for your International flight back home.
END OF THE TOUR
IN OPTION AT EXTRA COST
Day 8 : KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM (5 hour’s drive)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning after breakfast you will drive to Kovalam which is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India.
On arrival you will check into your resort.
Rest of the day you will be at your leisure for own activities.
Overnight – Kovalam
Niraamaya Retreats Surya SamudraRated amongst some of the world’s best is this spacious, lush and tranquil eco-friendly beach resort. Surya meaning sun and Samudra meaning sea, the name is befitting, as that is exactly why you come and exactly what you get. An incredibly rare swimming pool carved out of rock is mesmerizing and part of what makes numerous magazines refer to this place as something from a dream, or a scene from a movie. Spread over 20 acres, each of the 23 cottages is encased in the privacy of luxuriant foliage of coconut, palm, bamboo, banana, flowers and the chirping of birds. This is truly an ideal romantic getaway for two, but also a relaxing and enjoyable family destination.
Day 9 : KOVALAM
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rest of the day you will be at your leisure for own activities and Ayurvedic treatments.
Overnight – Kovalam.
Day 10: KOVALAM
Meals Included:Breakfast
Rest of the day you will be at your leisure for own activities and Ayurvedic treatments
Overnight – Kovalam.
Day 11 : KOVALAM (45 minute drive)
Meals Included:Breakfast
Today our representative will escort you to Trivandrumairport and provide assistance for your International flight back home.
END OF SERVICES
